Think that's correct Rayner,at least that's the way I understood it.
Wouldn't that be a schit shot?Why isn't there a No.2?
Has the size of regular angling shot been standardised at slightly different weights to the original, Mark? I've always understood that 1SSG=2AAA, 1AAA=2BB, 1BB=2No4, 1No4=2No6, 1No6=2No8, and so on down to micro-sizes; and in practice, this appears to be so. This chart would seem to bear that out: Fishing Split Shot - Guide to the weights of split shot
You are correct. Sometimes known as sinkers but shot as in 'gun shot' size is how it was originally devised - produced from a shot tower and later by other means.Don't take this as gospel.
Lead shot sizes are /were used for ammunition. It was first used as lead balls for guns, then later also shot gun cartridges.
The shot sizes were determined on weight.
Later splits were added for fishing.
That's exactly how it was explained to me in the 1950s. that doesn't make it fact but it's as I was told.
Do I think it true yes mainly because an alternative reason for shot sizes as never come up.
A 2 bore would fire a lead ball weighing 8oz, that's what the two means, i.e. That there would be two lead balls to a pound weight, a four bore would fire a ball of 4 ozs i.e. Four to a pound, and so on.
That 2 bore was probably what is known as a punt gun, they were mounted on a small boat, and loaded with shot, then you rowed within range of a large flock of ducks, and let fly,they could get ninety plus ducks with one shot, they were used commercially to get ducks for sale.
There's plenty of information on Google about them, there banned now.